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Event

The Lion in Winter

Epic and intimate. Brilliantly funny and deeply moving. The Vagabond Acting Troupe presents The Lion in Winter , an historic play that reveals the spectacular strategies for power and love between two of England's most formidable and most human rulers, King Henry II and Queen Eleanor, and their three crown-hungry sons. Telling the story of what happens before Shakespeare's King John, The Lion in Winter is a modern theatrical masterpiece.

The Vagabond Acting Troupe will present the historical play with an adult and Jr. Pro cast, January 23 through February 2 on the company's main stage at the Arts House, 30 Fairview Road, Honey Brook, PA. Performance times are 8:00 pm, January 23 through 25 (Thursday to Saturday), January 30 and 31 and then at 2 p.m. on February 2. There is no Saturday performance during the second weekend due to a battle of the bands on the Arts House stage on February 1 from 6 to 10.

James Goldman's The Lion in Winter, which debuted on Broadway at the Ambassador Theatre on March 3, 1966, follows the scheming, feuding, and political wrangling of the ruling family of King Henry II and depicts the manipulations that occur in the interpersonal relationships among members of this English royal family from the Middle Ages. The play is set in King Henry's castle during Christmas in the year 1183.

Jeffrey Beideman, (of Glenmoore, PA) lifetime ensemble member of the 21- year old acting troupe, plays King Henry II. Vagabond Acting Troupe's founding Executive Director, Aileen McCulloch (of Morgantown, PA), who has been working in professional theater for over 40 years, plays Eleanor of Aquitaine wife of the king. Eleanor was considered the most powerful woman of the Middle Ages, and McCulloch says of the role, "This is possibly the most exciting role I've ever gotten to play, and has been a dream role of mine for a very long time."

Other members of the cast include the three men portraying Henry and Eleanor's sons vying for the privilege of being named the next King of England: Jr. Pro actor Mitchell Peiffer of Birdsboro portrays John the youngest son and favorite of King Henry II; Glenmoore's Joshua Beideman is Richard the Lionhearted the oldest son and favorite of Queen Eleanor; Robb Russ, a professional actor out of Philadelphia, depicts Geoffrey the conniving middle son. Jonathan Ruch of Coatesville and Autumn Phillips of Honey Brook round out the cast filling the roles of King Philip of France and his sister, Alais - both key figures in the family's plots and counterplots.

McCulloch, who also directs the production, explains that though the company has presented adult shows in Philadelphia, locally this will be the first full length production they've produced that is meant specifically for adult audiences. "For 21 years Vagabond Acting Troupe has presented our adult shows in Philadelphia, where we've garnered many awards and nominations, including the award for "Most Courageous Theater" from the Philadelphia Weekly for productions like A NIGHT OF BECKET, THE ART OF WAR and THE CRUCIBLE. We've run our theater school here in Honey Brook, and are thrilled to answer our audiences call to bring professionals to the stage."

Vagabond Acting Troupe invites you to witness this dysfunctional family at its "finest" but wishes to remind its audience that the content of The Lion in Winter may not be appropriate for younger children due to its PG-13 themes. There is no nudity or cursing in the production, but a lot of plotting and scheming.

Tickets for the January 23 to February 2 production of The Lion in Winter are $18 for adults and $15 for seniors/students under the age of 18. To order tickets, make reservations, or contact Vagabond Acting Troupe for further information, visit www.vagabondactingtroupe.org for a link to their ticketing site or email for information to: vagabondactingtroupe@gmail.com. The Lion in Winter is presented by special arrangement with SAMUEL FRENCH, INC. and the financial support of the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts,